I haven't used iTunes since it first came out for Windows. Anybody know the bitrate of the MP3's they are selling? Or is it just DRM-free AAC? Their stuff used to be 128kbs, which was marginally acceptable. The Amazon stuff is WAY higher bitrate, and sounds far better. And cheaper. Maybe iTunes increased their quality over the years?
So in summary the Amazon tool (for tracks purchased online) and something like Anapod (for tracks ripped from CD library) continue to be the better choice for music management.
Well, your choice there. I use amazon with itunes. It's also seamless, with the amazon applet.
The ipod touch and iphone can't be managed by most third party programs because they don't show up as a disk drive. All the others work with those third party programs. I have an ipod touch.
I haven't used iTunes since it first came out for Windows. Anybody know the bitrate of the MP3's they are selling? Or is it just DRM-free AAC? Their stuff used to be 128kbs, which was marginally acceptable. The Amazon stuff is WAY higher bitrate, and sounds far better. And cheaper. Maybe iTunes increased their quality over the years?
IIRC, the DRM free stuff will be 256kb AAC.
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What’s so special about DRM-free tracks anyway? Why should I care?
Two big things: iTunes Plus tracks are encoded at 256-kpbs, twice the bit rate of standard iTunes tracks; and no DRM means you can play your files on as many Macs or PCs as you want.
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In Germany the regular iTunes songs used to be 128kbits whereas they had iTunes Plus version at 256kbits without DRM.
I hope everything is now at 256 kbits. Other competitors here in Germany often offer 320kbits ...
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Originally Posted by videomaker
Apple should really be ashamed. And that's another good reason to stick with Amazon and stay away from iTunes.
I'm not a huge fan of Apple, but I do like my iPod. However, blaming Apple for this is probably misplaced. Apple is just selling the music, and the people setting the rules are the record labels.
It was Apple that got the labels to agree to sell in this way in the first place - it was Apple that blazed the train that others have now been able to follow. Similarly, with DRM, and it's removal - it's not Apple that sets the terms.
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Originally Posted by mikem132
I haven't used iTunes since it first came out for Windows. Anybody know the bitrate of the MP3's they are selling? Or is it just DRM-free AAC? Their stuff used to be 128kbs, which was marginally acceptable. The Amazon stuff is WAY higher bitrate, and sounds far better. And cheaper. Maybe iTunes increased their quality over the years?
FWIW, 128kbps AAC is significantly better than 128kbps MP3. AFAIK, Apple have never sold any MP3s.
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Originally Posted by Flyingmama
Is there any indication iTunes will also lower the price of its audio books? That's mostly what I use my iPod for - and because of their prices I usually just go to the library and check out audio books there and rip them to the iPod.
Well, stolen audio books are always going to be cheaper than ones you've paid for....
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Originally Posted by LIH Prem
Well, your choice there. I use amazon with itunes. It's also seamless, with the amazon applet.
Same here.
I'm 100% DRM-free and don't have any problem using iTunes to manage unprotected tracks. Wal Mart's MP3s also have a plug-in that will put them automatically into iTunes.
